Godliness (εὐσέβεια)

Godliness is a word derived from “revere” (σέβω), expressing good reverence. Reverence refers to a deep sense of respect, awe, or veneration toward someone or something regarded as sacred, honorable, or highly esteemed. Godliness denotes the state or quality of being devoted to God, exhibiting a life characterized by reverence, holiness, and obedience to God’s will.

In Matthew 15:9, we find those who have a vain reverence for God because they teach the commandments of men. The verb σέβω (I revere) is used for both Jew and Proselytes who are devout to God (Acts 13:43). When εὐ is placed before the word, it modifies the meaning to a “good reverence”, describing the character of Christians who follow after Christ. This is because godliness in its full aspect was displayed to us by Christ when He revealed the mystery of godliness to us through His life (1 Timothy 3:16).

Godliness is seen in contrast to following after old wives’ tales (1 Timothy 4:7), bodily exercise for religious purposes (1 Timothy 4:8), and financial gain for the purpose of displaying perceived favor from God (1 Timothy 6:5). It involves healthy teaching, which is the proper use of Old Testament information, while not abusing the body to have the appearance of wisdom while neglecting it for religious observances made up by men (Colossians 2:23), such as Lent.

Those who teach that godliness is a means of gain falsely teach contrary to healthy teaching, are proud, know nothing, and are obsessed with disputing and debating which brings envy, strife, blasphemy, and malignantly evil suspicions (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Rather, godliness is contentment, for the fondness of money is a root of all that is wrong and leads into a snare (1 Timothy 6:6-10). We are to turn away from such false teachers, who have an outward form of godliness, but deny its inherent ability (2 Timothy 3:5). They are the ones that creep into households and take captive women burdened with sin, leading them by various desires (2 Timothy 3:6).

With great agreement is the mystery of godliness in the fact that God was manifested in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, discerned by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory (1 Timothy 3:16). Through His life, death for sin, and resurrection, we see the life of God in activity, true godliness.

Now, we show godliness because Christ lives in us, those who believe that He died for sins and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Therefore, we can live out the eternal life we have in Christ by showing a proper opinion of God through our lives, because the truth is according to godliness (Titus 1:1).

Therefore, as we mature, let us add godliness to our patience and self-control (2 Peter 1:6), having our conduct set apart to God (2 Peter 3:11). Let us seek a quiet and peaceable life in dignity (1 Timothy 2:2), pursuing after righteousness, faith, love, patience, and having an objective frame of mind on the truth (1 Timothy 6:11). Not merely having a form of godliness that denies its power, we are to be content and live as those who revere God in accordance with the truth that reflects true godliness.